Dr. Tunji Alausa has been appointed as Nigeria’s 31st Minister of Education, marking a significant shift in the country’s education strategy. As a board-certified Nephrologist and founder of the Kidney Care Center in the United States, Dr. Alausa brings extensive experience in healthcare to his new role. His appointment is expected to pivot Nigeria’s education system towards a knowledge-based economy, equipping young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute to the nation’s growth and prosperity.
One of Dr. Alausa’s key decisions as the new Minister of Education is reversing the 18-year admission age for tertiary institutions, announcing that the new benchmark will be 16 years. This change aims to provide more opportunities for young Nigerians to access higher education.
Dr. Alausa’s Priorities
Dr. Alausa has emphasized that his ministry will prioritize reducing out-of-school children numbers and enhancing human capital development. He also plans to introduce nutritional programs to support students’ health.
Dr. Alausa recently announced that the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide conditional cash transfers as incentives for students to increase school enrollment. Additionally, the withdrawal of certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo will remain in place to eliminate fake certificates from the system.
